’Tis the season to be generous

Thursday

Dec 19, 2013 at 3:15 AM

The Corporal Acts of Mercy espoused by most Christian churches include feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and sheltering the homeless. We venture to say that many followers of other religions, and (if we may borrow from B.J. Figueredo’s recent list) atheists, humanists, secularists, scientific materialists and one-worlders as well, would subscribe to these merciful acts.

In times of extremity, when the nobler aspects of human nature align with cultural mores and spiritual beliefs, great things are achieved. Over the past couple of weeks, and in the current issue of the Rochester Times, we report on examples of community organizations, businesses and ordinary citizens doing what they can to feed, clothe and shelter the less fortunate in their time of need.

As we report in our regular unemployment rate stories — and are one of the few media outlets to do so — it is the U-6 jobless rate which more accurately depicts economic conditions, not the official U-3 rate that is released every month. The U-6 rate, currently around 11 percent and running at more than twice the U-3 rate, takes into account “discouraged workers” and people working a few hours a week who want a full time job. It is the families of these people who are in need of food and sometimes shelter.

Piled on top of this situation is the continuing steady trickle (if that is not an understatement) of home foreclosures in the northern part of Strafford County. In addition, those people who dutifully saved money over the decades for retirement find that, in line with Federal Reserve policy, they are getting less than 1 percent interest on their nest eggs. It is hard to convince this group of elderly citizens that the recession is over and the economy is slowly getting back to normal, when their annual incomes are so much less than they had once anticipated.

Thus, there are plenty of good reasons (apart from substance abuse) why hundreds of families and senior citizens find themselves in a tough financial spot, and it is fortunate that their plights are recognized and empathized by those local businesses, clubs, churches and individuals who are in a better situation. It is heartwarming, too, that school students are being encouraged to help such organizations as Gerry’s Pantry, for they are being set on the right path for life.

Rochester Rotary Club, largely comprised of members of the business community, is but one example of a group imbued with community spirit. In recent days they have donated almost 200 food boxes to the elderly and disabled residents of Rochester Housing Authority, supplied bell ringers to help in the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle campaign, and, throughout the season, helped out as volunteers at the Homeless Center for Strafford County. In our Page 1 story on the Homeless Center, the congregation of Grace Community Church also gets a special mention in dispatches.

Also on Page 1, we note the shortfall in Red Kettle donations being experienced by the Salvation Army, because there are fewer bell-ringing days, this year, between Thanksgiving and Christmas. We encourage Christmas shoppers at city malls and stores to think of the bell jinglers standing outside in the cold, and slip a dollar or two into their kettles.

The Salvation Army, as we are sure atheists, humanists, et al., will readily acknowledge, are there to feed the hungry, via food pantry and soup kitchen, throughout the year, and to clothe the needy and shelter the homeless in times of sudden calamity — all Corporal Acts of Mercy.

‘Tis the season to be generous, and to help those coming to the aid of fellow citizens with real needs.